Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden Will Attend the World Series

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First Lady Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden will attend Game One of the 2011 World Series as part of Major League Baseball’s Welcome Back Veterans program and the First Lady’s Joining Forces initiative. MLB has dedicated Game One of the World Series to veterans and their families.

Prior to Game One, Mrs. Obama and Dr. Biden will join representatives from Major League Baseball and the St. Louis Cardinals including Hall of Famer and Army veteran Red Schoendienst at the St. Louis VA Medical Center for a military family appreciation event. Families attending will be the first to view the new Joining Forces and MLB Public Service Announcement that will premiere during Game One featuring Mrs. Obama as well as New York Yankees first baseman Mark Teixeira and Tampa Bay Rays outfielder Johnny Damon, both of whom come from military families.

The PSA will premiere Wednesday, October 19 in ballpark and on MLB.com and MLB Network. Additionally, there will be a special pre-game ceremony featuring Mrs. Obama, Dr. Biden, veterans and military families.

Mrs. Obama and Dr. Biden created Joining Forces to bring Americans together to recognize, honor and take action to support military families. Joining Forces mobilizes all sectors of society to give service members and their families opportunities and support.

Welcome Back Veterans, an MLB Charities initiative in partnership with the Robert R. McCormick Foundation and the Entertainment Industry Foundation, was designed to support returning veterans, particularly from Iraq and Afghanistan, and their family members as they transition to civilian life. Welcome Back Veterans has awarded more than $11 million in grants to non-profit agencies targeting veterans’ and their families’ greatest needs, focusing on treatment and research of post-traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injury.

Welcome Back Veterans is a public and private partnership designed to augment existing efforts of both the federal Veteran’s Administration and Department of Defense. The family support component is especially important since the VA is limited in what it can do to assist veterans’ families.

Welcome Back Veterans is financially supported by Major League Baseball, as well as by funds raised from auctions of game-used products and the donation of sales from Stars & Stripes baseball caps. Welcome Back Veterans is also supported by MLB Advanced Media and MLB Network.